Microsoft Lens Retired as AI Takes Over

Sometimes having straightforward programs that can performs one thing effectively and with minimal and no fuss is nice.

One such software was Microsoft Lens, a mobile document scanner that converted paper papers, business cards, receipts, and other materials into digital files that were simple and easy to read. Microsoft claims to be discontinuing the app and referring users to its Copilot AI conversation app in its place.

A new support document states that Lens will be taken off of iOS and Android devices on September 15, 2025, and taken off of Google Play and the Apple App Store on November 15, 2025 finally. The scanning features of the app will be available to current users until December 15, 2025. Access to previous scans will be available in the app as long as it is installed on the user’s device, but no new scans will be possible after that date.

Microsoft Lens, formerly known as Office Lens, was first released in 2015 and developed from a Windows Phone app. Although its main features were comparable to those of other mobile scanning apps, it avoided trying to charge customers more for specific features or pressure them into a subscription based, which is uncommon in the App Store these days.

Rather, it did its job of converting any note, whether handwritten or not, document, receipt, business card, or even scrawls on a whiteboard into the file type of your choice, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF, or pictures. Additionally, it provided a range of integrated filters to improve the final image, lighten the document, create a crisper black-and-white copy, and more.

After that, you might save the file to your digicam which is the camera roll, other web services, or one of Microsoft’s apps. It was easy to use and effective.

Bleeping Computer website was the first to notice that the software was about to taken out by been shut down completely. It also notes that users are being redirected to the Microsoft 365 Copilot app, which is devoid of all the features that Lens offers. Although Copilot is capable of scanning, it does not allow business card scans to be saved to OneNote or to be saved straight to Word, PowerPoint, or OneNote. The website adds that it is also devoid of Lens’ accessibility capabilities, such as read-out-loud and integrate the Immersive Reader.

According to data from software intelligence company Appfigures, Lens has received over 322,000 downloads on the Apple Store and Google Play in the last 30 days, demonstrating its continued popularity despite its advanced age. According to the company’s data, it has been downloaded 92.3 million times since January 2017 till date as the agency’s information reveals.

A request for comment on Microsoft’s decision to shut down Lens has not yet received a response, however one will be provided if eventually a response is been provided.